Thill-coupling.



Patented Mar. 6, I900.

C. E. STONE.

THILL COUPLING.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

after/140.13

CHARLES EDWIN STONE, OF AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,693, dated March 6,900.

Application filed October 19,1899. Serial No. 734,046. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES EDWIN STONE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft or ThillCouplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to couplings for shafts, thills, orthe poles of vehicles; and the object thereof is to provide a couplingthat will possess strength and durability and at the same time be simplein its construction and readily and conveniently coupled or uncoupled,as found necessary.

The invention consists in a coupling of the above character constructedsubstantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described andclaimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing a portion of ametal axle with one of the coupling-sections connected thereto; Fig. 2,a perspective view of a thill-iron with the coupling-socket on the endthereof; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the complete coupling, showing thecoupling-pin and screwshank in elevation; Fig. 4, a perspective View ofthe ordinary axle-clip with my improved coupling-pin thereon; Fig. 5, aside elevation of another Well-known form of clip, showing thecoupling-pin thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a portion of a metal axle,and B the tubular bracket, having an extended base a to fit on the axle.The bracket B has a circumferential flange b, with notch c at its outerend, and has also a countersink h, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.This bracket is preferably of malleable iron, but may be constructed ofany metal found most desirable and may be of such shape at its base asto nicely fit the axle.

A coupling-pin 0 extends into the countersink h and has a screw-threadedshank d, said shank being of less diameter than the pin to form ashoulder at the junction of the two to seat itself at the base of thecountersink.

The shouldered coupling-pin O is constructed of steel or other preferredmetal, and the screw-threaded shank thereof may be of any desirablelength to enter a screw-threaded hole or socket in the axle, said shankextending through the bracket, as shown. The outer end of the bracket Bbeing countersunk and the pin 0 extending therein, a strong and durablejoint is obtained between the bracket and pin. After the pin isconnected to the bracket and the shank of the pin screwed into the metalaxle the whole is brazed together on the axle, thus forming a solidconnection between the pin, its screw-shank, the bracket, and the axle.

The shaft or thill iron D may be of any suitable form and constructionand is provided at its end with a socket-head E, preferably closed atits outer end, so that it will exclude dirt and grit; but the head maybe open at both ends, if found desirable, as I do not wish to beunderstood as confining myself to either form. The inner end of thesocket-head E has a lug e, which lug is formed with a lookinglip f,extending inwardly and at substantially a right angle to the lug, thelug and lip forming together a locking device to secure the socket-headE ,on the coupling pin 0.

A washer F, of fiber, leather, or other suitable material, is providedwith a tubular ex= tension g, adapted to fit in the socket-head E, asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This washer provides an interposedpacking between the circumferential flange 19 and the socket-head E, andthe tubular extension g of said washer forms a bushing for the pin 0,thereby securing a perfectly-tight connection between thecircumferential flange, the coupling-pimand socket-head.

WVhen the socket-head is engaged with the coupling-pin, said head isturned in the proper direction until the lip f registers with the notchc, which will admit the lip being brought back of the flange b, and, byfurther turning the socket-head to a lockingposition, the pin andsocket-head will spring together and form a perfectly-tight couplingthat will prevent rattling.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown two of the ordinary forms of clips, whichmay be provided with the coupling-pin and its notched flange, to takethe place of the tubular bracket I3, thereby adapting thesocket-l1ead,with its locking device, to a coupling-pin upon any of theold and well-known forms of clips.

The washer F, with its tubular extension, provides a perfectlytightconnection and renders the coupling both dust and water proof.

In the construction of the several parts any changes or modificationsmay be made as would come within ordinary mechanical skill and judgmentwithout in any manner departing from the principle of my. invention, andthe coupling may be applied to all forms of clips where a pin andsocket-head are capable of use.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shaft or thill coupling, consisting of a coupling pin, a notchedcircumferential flange, and a socket-head provided with a lug andlocking-lip thereon engaging said flange, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A shaft or thill coupling, consisting of a coupling-pin andasocket-head having means to engage therewith and lock itself thereto,and a washer having a tubular extension fltting in the socket-head toform a bushing for the pin, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

3. A shaft or thill coupling, consisting of a coupling pin, acircumferential notched flange, and a socket-head with a lug havinglocking-lip engaging said flange, and a washer with tubular extensionfitting in the sockethead, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

4. A shaft or thill coupling, consisting of a tubular bracket, acoupling-pin having a screw-threaded shank extendingthrough said bracketand adapted to screw into the axle, and a socket-head and means forlocking the head to the flange, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

5. Ashaft or thill coupling, consisting of a tubular bracket having acountersink upon its outer end and a notched circumferential fiange,acoupling-pin havinga screw-threaded shank extending through the bracketand adapted to screw into the axle, and a sockethead with lug andlocking-lip to engage with the flange, substantially as and for thepurpose described. I

In testimony'that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my nameinthe presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES EDlVIN STONE.

Witnesses:

D. J. MARs'roN, C. W. JENKINS.

